Stringed musical instrument



Jan. 14, 1936. R, DOPYERA STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed March 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 l 30 5 3/ 22 w 6 8 6 1 2 3 w H W 2 7 v 3 fiM 2 W/m 4 M T T p A Ov H r w J 3 3 D {J O 3 z w 22 5 g X w M 3 a 5 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Jan. 14,

Filed March 22, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 9/ v as INVENTOR RUDOLPH DOPYERA.

BY I I ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 1 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Rudolph Dopyera, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application March 22, 1932, Serial No. 600,394 11 Claims. 01. 84- 296) This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments.

The general object of the invention is to provide a novel guitar including an improved resonator.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a novel resonator unit for use with a stringed instrument.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel guard member for the bridge and resonator of a guitar or other musical instrument.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an instrument embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elongated section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary topplan view of the instrument with portions thereof broken away.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fargmentary section of the resonator.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the guard member.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of construction, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 6 on a reduced scale and with portions thereof broken away.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a guitar which is indicated generally at I0. As shown the guitar I0 comprises a body portion 12, a neck 13 and a tailpiece I4. The usual strings l5 are strung from the end of the neck to the tail piece.

The body 12 includes side members IS, a bottom member I1 and a top member [8 all of which are preferably made of wood and may be secured together in any desired manner. In the top memher [8 I provide a circular aperture I9.

Positioned between the top member [8 and the bottom member II I provide a wooden wall member 20 which is shaped to conform to the contour of the aperture l9 to form a well 2!. A plurality of apertures 23 are provided in the wall member 20 and a plurality of screen covered apertures 24 are provided in the top member 18.

Positioned in the well 2|, I provide a resonator 25 which is preferably made of aluminum. As shown the resonator 25 is substantially semielliptical as indicated at 26 and the upper edge terminates in an angular bead 21 which merges into a bead 28 which is semi-circular in cross section. The bead 28 in turn merges into a flange portion 29. The flange portion 29 rests on the top member [8 and is adapted to be secured in position by a plurality of screws 38.

The metal of the bowl portion 26 increases in thickness from a thin portion indicated at 31' below the head 27 each way as clearly shown in Fig. 4 and metal at the center portion of the bead 28 is compressed so that the thickness of the metal forming the bead 28 increases in thickness from a thin portion 32 at the center of the bead outward each way. By thus tapering the metal of the resonator 25 at the points 3! and 32 greater resiliency is obtained. In the portion 26 of the resonator, I provide a plurality of apertures 33.

Positioned on the resonator 25, I provide a dome member 35 which is preferably made of aluminum. The thickness of the dome 35 preferably tapers from a thick portion adjacent the center thereof outward to the lower edges 36 of the dome. The edge 36 of the dome rests on the portion 26 of the resonator 26 below the thin point 31 thereof. Opening through the edge 36 of the dome, I provide a plurality of slots 37. When assembled the edge 35 of the dome is preferably spot welded to the portion 26 of the resonator.

Adjacent the center of the dome 35, I provide a pair of elongated bosses 39, each of which includes a longitudinally extending recess in which a wooden bridge member 49 is positioned on which the strings l5 are adapted to rest.

In the center of the dome 35 intermediate the bosses 39, I provide an aperture 4| in which a bolt 42 is positioned. The lower end of the bolt 42 engages a threaded member 44 secured to the resonator 25. Surrounding the bolt 42 I provide a cylindrical metal tube 45 made of resilient metal and which includes a plurality of longitudinal splits 46 intermediate its ends to increase the resiliency. One end of the tube 45 engages the underside of the dome 35 and the opposite end engages a portion of the resonator 25.

The bolt 42 is provided for tuning and by tightening or loosening the bolt the tone of the instrument may be adjusted. When the bolt 42 is tightened to an operative position the split sides of the tube 45 are slightly expanded and exert a tension on the resonator and the dome. When the dome 35 and the resonator 25 are operatively assembled they form a resonating ohamber between the dome and the resonator.

Positioned over the dome 35 I provide a cover 46 which is made of metal and includes a peripheral flange 41 which rests on the top member [8 and is adapted to be secured thereto by screws 48. Adjacent the center of the cover 46 I provide a rectangular aperture 49 through which the bridges extend and positioned radially around the cover 46' I provide a plurality of sets of apertures 58 which may be of any desiredsize or shape.

Positioned over the cover 46 transversely of the strings I5, I provide a guard bar 52 which is made of metal and includes feet 53 which engage'the top member l8 and are secured thereto by screws 54. Adjacent the center of the guard bar 52 I provide an enlarged portion 55 which extends from the side thereof towards the tail piece It and is adapted to be used as an arm rest by the person playing the instrument.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I have shown a guitar which includes a modified form of closed resonating chamber B. As shown the guitar 60 is similar to the guitar It] and includes a body portion 6| which comprises side members 62, a bottom member 63 and a top member 64 all of which are preferably made of wood and may be secured together in any desired manner. In the top member 64, I provide a circular aperture 65 and positioned between the top member 64 and the bot tom member 53, I provide a wooden wall member 55 which is shaped to conform to the contour of the aperture 65 to form a well portion 61. A plurality of apertures 63 are provided in the wall member 66.

Adjacent the top of the well and below the top member 6-3, I secure a wooden hanger member 69 and adjacent the bottom of the well I secure another wooden hanger member 10.

Mounted on the hanger Hi, I provide a resonator H which is preferably made of aluminum. The resonator H comprises a central upwardly domed somewhat hemispherical portion 12, an outer flange 73, an upwardly domed bead 14 between the flange l3 and the portion 12 and an upwardly crimped bead 15 between the bead 14 and the portion 12. The flange l3 rests on the hanger l6 and is shown as clamped thereto by a wooden ring member 76 which is secured to the hanger ill by screws TI.

The metal of the portion 72 like the metal of the bowl portion 26 of the resonator 25, is tapered from a thin point indicated at 18 each way therefrom and the metal at the center portion of the bead M is compressed so that the thickness of the metal forming the bead 14 is tapered from a thin point 18' at the center of the bead outward each way similar to the bead 28. In the portion 72 of the resonator H, I provide a plurality of apertures 80.

Mounted on the hanger 69, I provide a supporting ring 82. The supporting ring 82 comprises a flange portion 83 which merges into an upwardly domed bead 85 which in turn merges into a downwardly extending crimped bead 85 which merges into a reduced upwardly domed bead 86 and which merges into a downwardly extending crimped bead 87. The flange 83 of the ring 82 is adapted to be secured to the hanger 69 as by a plurality of screws 88. The metal at the center of the bead 34, like that of the bead I4, is preferably compressed so that the thickness of the metal forming the bead 84 is tapered from a thin point at the center of the bead outwardly each Way.

Mounted on the supporting ring 82, I provide a dome member 90 which is preferably made of aluminum. The sides of the dome Qilextending from the lower edge thereof upwardly towards the center in an undulating curve and the thickness of the metal forming the dome is greatest adjacent the center and tapers outwardly to the lower edges of the dome. The lower edges of the dome member 90 are positioned in the groove formed by the crimp 8'! of the supporting ring 82 and are preferably cemented to or spot welded to the ring 82.

Opening through the lower edge of the dome member 95, I provide a plurality of semi-circular slots 9! Adjacent the center of the dome member 98, I provide a pair of elongated bosses 92 each of which includes a longitudinally extending recess in which a wooden bridge member 53 is positioned on which the strings 95 of the instrument are adapted to rest. In the center of the dome member 90 intermediate the bosses 92, I provide an aperture 55 in which a bolt 55 is positioned.

The lower end of the bolt 56 engages a threaded member 97 secured to the resonator ll. Surrounding the bolt'96 I provide a cylindrical metal tube 98 which is split and functions in the same manner as the tube 55 of the device Ill.

When the resonator l i, the supporting ring 82 and the dome member 58 are operatively assembled they form, in combination with the wall 66, a closed resonating chamber B.

Positioned over the dome member 95, I provide a cover plate 5 55 which is similar to the cover plate 55 of the device it] and extending over the cover plate 556, I provide a guard member ms which is similar to the guard member 52 of the device Hi.

Although I have shown and described my invention as embodied in a guitar, it will be readily understood that the invention is applicable to any type of stringed musical instrument.

From the foregoing description itwill be apparent that I have provided a novel musical instrument which is simple in construction and highly efficient in use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. For use in a stringed musical instrument having a body with a well therein, a resonator adapted to be supported at its periphery in the Well, said resonator including a dished portion and a peripheral portion, said dished portion including a circumferentially extending thinned portion and a second circumferentially extending thin portion in said peripheral portion.

2. For use in a stringed musical instrument having a well therein, a metal resonator adapted to be supported in the well, said resonator comprising a centrally arranged dished 'dome having V chamber with the material of said dome decreasing in thickness from the center thereof towards the periphery, the material of said bowl including a thin portion adjacent the line of contact with said dome.

4. A resonator with unit, a bowl shaped metallic' resonator adapted to be supported in the tion thereon adapted to be engaged by the strings of a musical instrument.

5. In a stringed musical instrument, a hollow body portion having a neck thereon and having a well therein, a resonating member supported in said well, a bridge on said resonating member, strings engaging said bridge and secured to said neck and body, a cover secured to said body and extending over said bridge and a transverse guard passing across said body, over said bridge and said cover and spaced above said cover.

6. For use in a musical instrument including a body having a well therein, a metallic resonator adapted to be supported at the periphery thereof and including a dished bowl, a dished dome having notches in its periphery and engaging said bowl, and in axial alignment with the bowl, said dome having a bridge thereon adapted to support playing strings, said bowl and dome being oppositely directed to form a resonating chamber, said dome decreasing in thickness from the center thereof towards its periphery, said bowl including a circumferentially thinned portion adjacent the line of contact with said dome and including a second outer thinned portion.

7. For use in a musical instrument including a body having a well therein and having a pair of vertically spaced hangers in the well, a pair of vertically spaced, metallic, resonators in axial alignment and adapted to be supported on the hangers, one of said resonators including spaced peripheral beads and a dished central portion, one of said beads being thinned and the second resonator including a thinned peripheral portion, said first and second resinators being spaced apart to form a resonating chamber, a bridge on said second resonator, and means to secure said resonators together.

8. For use in a stringed musical instrument including a body. having a neck thereon, a tail piece and strings in tension, a resonator, said resonator including a pair of dished, metallic portions in axial alignment and spaced apart to form a resonating chamber, the periphery of one of said portions being adapted to be supported in the musical instrument body, a bridge supported on said resonator and means to hold said resonator portions assembled.

9. For use in a musical instrument including a hollow body having a neck thereon, a tail piece, a bridge and strings in tension, and with a member in the body on which to support a resonator, a resonator comprising a downwardly dished metallic body portion having a peirpheral rim portion adapted to engage the resonator supporting member in a position to support the bottom of the resonator spaced above the bottom of the instrument body, said resonator having a bead inwardly oi the peripheral rim portion, a bridge supporting member disposed under said bridge and extending downwardly, said bridge support ing member engaging the downwardly dished body portion at the center thereof and a fastening member engaging the downwardly dished portion of the resonator and coacting with the bridge supporting member to prevent the bridge supporting member from shifting from its central positon on the downwardly dished body.

10. For use in a stringed musical instrument including a hollow body having a neck thereon, a well, a tail piece, strings in tension and a bridge engaging said strings, a hollow, dished, metallic, resonator, adapted to be supported in the well, a bridge supporting member adapted to engage a bridge, said bridge supporting member including a downwardly directed peripheral portion, said downwardly directed peripheral portion engaging said resonator in annular engagement at a location within the periphery of said resonator,

and a tension member engaging said resonator and said bridge supporting member and passing through said bridge supporting member.

11. For use in a stringed musical instrument including a hollow body having a neck thereon, a well, a tail piece, strings in tension and a bridge engaging said strings, a hollow, dished, metallic, resonator adapted to be supported in the well, a supporting member adapted to engage the bridge, said supporting member engaging said resonator at a location within the periphery of said resonator, there being a chamber between said resonator and said supporting member, a hollow tubular member engaging said resonator and said bridge supporting member, and means to hold said supporting member and said resonator assembled.

RUDOLPH DOPYERA. 

